JPH0877329A - Display device for time-sequentially processed image - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To improve diagnostic accuracy and diagnostic efficiency for a medical radiograph by superimposing a time-sequentially processed image, of which the changed part with the passage of time is selectively emphasized, on a source image showing a structural part that is not changed. CONSTITUTION: The source image stored in a storage device and the time- sequentially processed image corresponding to the source image are added and the added image is displayed. This time sequential processing is differential processing between time sequential images, for example, the image selectively emphasizing the changed part with the lapes of time can be provided by canceling normal structural shadow with no change by this differential processing and further, the position relation or the sizes of the changed part with the lapes of time and the structural part with no change with the lapes of time can be clearly presented by adding the source image (the time sequential image as the base of a differential image) to this differential image. Therefore, the time sequential changed part of an object can be presented to a reader based on the time sequential image clearly while clearly showing the position relation with the structural part with no change with the lapes of time.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a time-series processed image display device, and more particularly, to a time-series processed image obtained by image processing using a plurality of time-series images. The present invention relates to a technique for presenting a changed portion in an easy-to-see manner.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Radiation images such as X-ray images are often used for diagnosing diseases, etc. In order to obtain this X-ray image, X-rays transmitted through a subject are applied to a phosphor layer (fluorescent screen). Conventionally, so-called radiography, in which visible light is generated by irradiation, and the visible light is applied to a film using a silver salt to develop the film, which is the same as in ordinary photography, has been conventionally used.

In the diagnosis based on the observation of the radiograph, for example, a plurality of films (for example, a chest X-ray film obtained by periodical examination) obtained at the same subject at different times are treated with Schaucasten (film observation). In some cases, a doctor compares the time-series images with each other on an observing device such as a container, and recognizes a time-varying portion based on his / her own experiential knowledge so as to utilize it for diagnosis.

As described above, the method of comparing and referencing images in time series with each other is to detect a newly-occurring lesion,
It is important to know the progression or improvement of already known lesions.

[0005]

However, there is a case where an important time-dependent change portion is overlooked even when performing the time-series comparative image reading as described above. For example, in a chest radiographic image, normal structures such as bones, blood vessels, and bronchi are intricately intertwined with each other, and the shadows of lesions may be difficult to find because they are camouflaged by the shadows of these normal structures. In addition, the two radiographs often have finishes with considerably different densities and gradations due to variations in the X-ray exposure amount at the time of radiography, and such variations in finishes may occur between images in time series. It could be an obstacle to accurate comparison.

Further, in the above-described comparative image reading of film images, there is a problem that efficiency is poor because it is necessary to select a target film from a film storage or the like, carry it to the image reading room, and apply it to the Schaukasten each time. Further, conventionally, even when a time-varying portion is detected by comparative reading between time-series images, in order to recognize the accurate position, range, or degree of change, areas corresponding to each other in a plurality of films should be identified. Since it is necessary to make selections based on observation and knowledge, and to make a judgment by comparing these areas with each other, there is a problem that the diagnostic efficiency is poor.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a time-series change portion of a subject is referred to as a time-series image in a form that is easy to see and does not change with time. By presenting the positional relationship to a radiogram interpreter in a form clearly showing, it is an object of the present invention, in particular, to improve diagnostic accuracy and diagnostic efficiency in medical radiation images.

[0008]

Therefore, in the time-series processed image display device according to the invention of claim 1, the original image stored in the storage device and the time-series processed image corresponding to the original image are read by the image reading means. While reading, at least one of the original image and the time-series processed image is subjected to image processing by the image processing means. Any one of the read time-series processed image and the image-processed time-series processed image on one of the read original image and the image-processed original image. The image addition means is caused to perform the process of adding one of the two, and the image display means displays the added image obtained by the image addition means.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the time-series processed image display device reads out a plurality of time-series original images stored in the storage device by the image reading means, while the time-series processing means reads the plurality of time-series original images. A time-series processed image is generated by performing image processing by using at least two images of the plurality of time-series original images. Here, the image processing means performs image processing on at least one of the at least one original image and the time-series processed image among the plurality of original images, and the image adding means performs the image processing on the read original image. And either the generated time-series processed image or the image-processed time-series processed image is added to one of the image processed original image and the image processed original image. Then, the image display means displays the added image obtained by the image addition means.

In the time-series processed image display device according to the invention of claim 3, the image processing means includes a gradation processing means for changing the gradation characteristics of the image, and a frequency processing means for changing the frequency characteristics of the image. Of at least one of the above. In the time-series processed image display device according to the invention of claim 4, the image processing means extracts a specific structure in the image, and the specific structure extracted by the structure extracting means. And a graphic generating means for generating a graphic showing the position of.

In the time-series processed image display device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the image processing means has a color operation means for performing a color operation on an image or a figure to generate a colored image. In the time-series processed image display device according to the invention of claim 6, the image processing means includes a color operation means for generating a colored time-series processed image in which a hue is changed based on a pixel value of the time-series processed image. It is configured to have.

In the time-sequentially processed image display device according to the invention of claim 7, the image display means includes the addition image,
The image addition means is configured to have a plurality of image display means for simultaneously displaying the image before being subjected to the addition processing on the same display screen or different display screens. In the time-series processed image display device according to the invention of claim 8, the image display means displays a state in which the addition image is displayed and a state in which an image before the addition processing is performed in the image addition means is displayed. The display switching means for switching between is used.

In the time-series processed image display device according to the present invention, the image processing means has processing condition adjusting means for changing the image processing conditions in multiple stages, and the image display means is The display switching means sequentially displays the plurality of addition images generated as a result of changing the image processing conditions in multiple stages.

[0014]

According to the time-series processed image display device of the present invention, the original image stored in the storage device and the time-series processed image corresponding to the original image are added, and the added image is displayed. To do. The time-series processing is, for example, a time-series difference processing between images, and an image in which normal structure shadows that do not change are canceled and a temporal change portion is selectively emphasized is obtained by the difference processing. By adding the original image (the time-series image that is the source of the difference image) to the difference image, it is possible to clearly present the positional relationship and size between the time-varying portion and the structural portion that has not changed with time.

However, if the time-series processed image and the original image are added as they are, the time-varying portion emphasized in the time-series processed image may be buried in the shadow of the complex normal structure of the original image. As a configuration in which at least one of the original image and the time-series processed image is subjected to image processing and then addition processing is performed, a time-changed portion or a time-non-changed portion of the addition image is presented in an easy-to-see manner.

In the time-series processed image display device according to the invention of claim 2, a plurality of time-series original images are stored in the storage device, and means for generating the time-series processed image from the original images is provided. Have. Then, similarly to the configuration according to the invention of claim 1, the original image and the time-series processed image are added after image processing is performed, and the added image is displayed.

In the time-series processed image display device according to the invention of claim 3, as the image processing, at least one of gradation processing for changing the gradation characteristics of the image and frequency processing for changing the frequency characteristics of the image is performed. The configuration is performed. For example, to reduce the contrast of the original image by gradation processing, conversely to enhance the contrast of the time-series processed image, and to perform desharpening processing or high frequency extraction processing as frequency processing on the original image. Thus, it is possible to easily present the above-mentioned temporally changed portion and the structural portion that has not temporally changed (normal structural portion) in the added image.

In the time-sequentially processed image display device according to the invention of claim 4, a specific structure in the image is extracted as the image processing, and a figure showing the position of the specific structure is generated. We made it possible to present highly visible structural parts that were not processed. In the time-series processed image display device according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to perform a color operation on an image or a figure to generate a colored image. For example, by coloring the time-varying portion and the invariant structure portion with different colors. , It becomes possible to separate and display each other with high visibility.

In the time-series processed image display device according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, a colored time-series processed image in which the hue is changed is generated based on the pixel value of the time-series processed image, and the property of the change over time is determined by the color information. So that it can be presented as. In the time-series processed image display device according to the invention of claim 7, since the addition image and the image before the addition process are displayed simultaneously, for example, the recognition of the time-varying portion by the addition image and the time change by the image before the addition process are performed. It is possible to observe the shadow of the changed portion in detail at the same time.

In the time-series processed image display device according to the present invention, the addition image and the image before the addition process can be switched and displayed. For example, an addition image suitable for rough recognition of a temporal change portion can be displayed. , The original image suitable for detailed observation of the shadow of the time-varying part can be switched and displayed. In the time-sequentially processed image display device according to the invention of claim 9, a plurality of addition images obtained by changing the conditions of image processing (including color operation) in multiple stages are sequentially switched and displayed. Alternatively, a plurality of images having different intensities of the invariant structure portion can be sequentially observed.

[0021]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 shows a system configuration of an embodiment of a time-series processed image display device according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, an image storage unit 1 (storage device) stores a plurality of digital image data of X-ray radiographic images for medical diagnosis (for example, a chest radiographic image of a human body imaged in a regular medical examination). Yes, it is composed of a magneto-optical disk and the like.

The radiation image data is obtained by irradiating a silver salt film on which a radiation image is recorded with light from a light source such as a laser or a fluorescent lamp to obtain transmitted light of the silver salt film and photoelectrically converting the transmitted light. Or the radiation that has passed through the subject is absorbed by the phosphor, and then the phosphor is excited by, for example, light or heat energy to absorb the radiation energy accumulated by the absorption. It may be one obtained by emitting it as fluorescence and photoelectrically converting this fluorescence.

An image information storage unit 2 is provided separately from the image storage unit 1, and the image information storage unit 2 stores various information about each image stored in the image storage unit 1. , For example, shooting date, part, shooting conditions,
It is possible to store information about image processing conditions, a subject, and the like, information on alignment processing between images obtained by photographing the same region of the same subject, and detection results of abnormal shadows.

It should be noted that the position alignment information means at least one of a plurality of images including a common subject portion so that the position of the common subject is relatively matched. This is information for coordinate conversion processing. Relative positional deviation due to the positioning of the subject at the time of shooting and the difference in the X-ray incident direction is corrected by coordinate conversion based on the alignment information to obtain a plurality of images. It is possible to superimpose image parts corresponding to the same anatomical structure of.

The image data stored in the image storage unit 1 and various incidental information stored in the image information storage unit 2 are collated and read by the image management unit 3. However, the image information storage unit 2 is omitted,
The image data and various types of information corresponding to each image may be paired and stored in the image storage unit 1. The stored data in the image storage unit 1 and the image information storage unit 2 is read by the image management unit 3 (image reading means) at any time by arbitrarily selecting a read image by the console 4. The read image data is
After being subjected to image processing in the image processing unit 5 (image processing unit) as necessary, the image is displayed on the image display unit 6 of the image display unit A (image display unit) in order to interpret the radiation image.

Therefore, it is not necessary to search for a target film and hang it on the radiographic film, which is required when the radiographic film is read by using the Schaukasten.
The image display unit A includes, in addition to the image display unit 6,
The image memory 7 and the display controller 8 are provided. As the image display unit 6, a CRT, a plasma display, a liquid crystal display or the like is used, but it is preferable to use the CRT from the viewpoint of gradation expression performance, and 1000 or more scanning lines known as a medical high definition CRT. It is more preferable to use a CRT of a system or higher.

The image data read from the image storage unit 1 (or the image data that has been subjected to image processing after reading) is stored in the image memory 7 of the image display unit A, and is stored in the image memory 7. The image data is displayed on the image display unit 6 under the control of the display control unit 8.
The display control unit 8 controls a display image according to a display format instruction given via the console 4.

By the way, with respect to a subject who has undergone a chest X-ray, for example, by a regular examination, a time-series image sequence (hereinafter referred to as a time-series image) for each subject is completed. Then, by performing difference processing (a kind of time-series processing) between a plurality of time-series images of the same part of the same subject captured at different times in this way, the time-varying part of the subject is selected. It is possible to emphasize the difference, so that it is easy to detect a time-varying portion (a newly-generated lesion or a lesion with a changed medical condition) by observing the difference image (the image generated by the difference processing. The same applies below). You will be able to.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, whether the difference processing is performed in advance on the time series image (original image) and the difference image (time series processed image) is stored in the storage unit 1 together with the time series image. Alternatively, a plurality of time-series images are read out from the storage unit 1, and the image processing unit 5 is based on them.
(Time-series processing means) newly generates the difference image, and by processing and displaying the difference image obtained by any of the methods as described later, it is possible to easily detect a temporal change portion. I am trying.

The difference processing is performed, for example, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. First, two time series images (1) and (2) acquired at different times (S
Pre-processing (S3, S4) is performed for 1, S2). The pre-processing is image reduction processing for simplifying the calculation of the difference processing, and for example, pixel thinning-out or averaging processing is performed.

When the preprocessing is completed, a positioning process is carried out for matching the relative displacement of the object portion between the images due to the positioning of the object at the time of photographing and the difference in the X-ray incident direction (S5). . The alignment process can be performed using various known methods as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-14553, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-278183, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-70236 and the like.

Specifically, for example, the positional deviation of the portions corresponding to each other between the two images is obtained by linear approximation, and the correction function of the nonlinear positional deviation between the two images is obtained from the obtained positional deviation amount. Done. Further, after performing a rough alignment based on the externally input parameters, the amount of deviation may be calculated for each corresponding area by the cross-correlation method to correct the distortion.

The alignment information includes, for example, a parallel movement amount, a combination of the parallel movement amount and the rotation amount, a polynomial degree (in the case of polynomial conversion), a movement amount in the X direction and a movement amount in the Y direction for all pixels. And a movement amount in the X direction and a movement amount in the Y direction with respect to the representative pixel. The alignment processing may be performed based on the alignment information stored in advance, or the alignment information may be set by detecting the positional deviation between the read images. It may be configured to be made.

When the alignment process is completed, a difference process (S6) is performed to obtain the difference in image data between the corresponding pixels of the two time-series images, and when a time-dependent difference image is obtained, a predetermined process is subsequently performed. Post-processing (S7) such as processing for adding an offset value and gradation processing is performed, and finally, a difference image obtained based on the time-series image (a time-series difference image as one type of time-series processed image) is set. (S8).

As shown in the flow chart of FIG. 3, just before (or immediately after) the position adjustment process (S5), the density / gradation correction for adjusting the density / gradation of the entire image to the standard density / gradation characteristics. You may make it perform a process (S5 '). Specifically, the density / gradation correction processing as disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,224,177 can be used. Alternatively, a method may be used in which the image is divided into a plurality of small areas and the pixel values of one image are corrected so that the statistical values of the pixel values in the corresponding small areas are equal. An average value, a variance value, or the like is used as the statistic.

By the way, in the time-dependent difference image (time-series processed image), the time-varying portion is emphasized so that the time-varying portion can be easily detected. Therefore, even if a temporal change portion (lesion portion) is detected by observing the difference image, it is difficult to recognize the exact position and area in the normal structure from the same difference image.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, a process of adding a time-series image (original image) to the difference image (time-series processed image) is performed as follows (image adding means), and the difference image (time-series processed image) is generated by such a process. By displaying the added image, it is possible to present the time-varying portion in the image to the radiogram interpreter by clarifying the positional relationship with the unchanged structural portion.

That is, by adding the time-series image which is the original image to the difference image, it becomes possible to obtain an image in which a normal structure that does not change is displayed while highlighting the portion that has changed with time. This makes it possible to recognize a part as a background of a normal structure that does not change with time. An example of the addition process will be described below. 4 to 6, after performing image processing on a time-series image (original image) (image processing means), addition processing with a difference image (image addition means) is performed and the added image is displayed (image display means). ) An example is shown.

In the example shown in FIG. 4, after the time series image is gradation-processed using the gradation conversion table to reduce the contrast (gradation processing means), the image processing (gradation processing) is performed. The added time-series image is added to the difference image (image adding means), and the added image is displayed (image display means). By reducing the contrast of the time-series image, the time-varying part that is emphasized in the difference image is
This is to prevent the time-varying portion from becoming difficult to detect because it is buried in the fine shadows of the structural portion that does not change with time in the added image. It can be displayed on the image of the structure that does not change with time in an easily visible form. Then, by observing the added image, it becomes possible to clarify the positional relationship with the structure that has not changed with time and easily detect the changed portion with time.

In the example shown in FIG. 5, the time-series image is subjected to the non-sharpening processing as the frequency processing (frequency processing means), and then added to the difference image (image addition means), and the added image is displayed. (Image display means). The non-sharpening process is, for example, a so-called blurring in which an average value of image data is obtained for each of a plurality of image areas each having a plurality of pixels in the vertical and horizontal directions and the average value is replaced with image data of a central pixel of the image area. An image is generated.

In this case as well, the time-varying portion emphasized in the difference image is prevented from being buried in the portion having no time-varying portion in the added image by the desharpening process for the time-series image, and the time-varying portion is removed. Accurate position and area can be detected. Further, in the example shown in FIG. 6, the time-series image is subjected to high-frequency extraction processing as frequency processing (frequency processing means) to extract the contours of the time-series image, and the time-varying portion emphasized in the difference image. Avoids being difficult to find due to camouflaging by the low-frequency shadow of the structure in the added image.

In the above embodiment, the time series image (original image) is subjected to image processing such as gradation processing and frequency processing (image processing means) and then added to the difference image (time series processed image). However, conversely, a configuration may be adopted in which the difference image is subjected to image processing and then added to the time series image, and an embodiment corresponding to this may be shown in FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the difference image (time-series processed image) is subjected to gradation processing for emphasizing contrast by conversion of image data by a preset gradation conversion table (gradation processing means), The difference image that has been subjected to gradation processing is added to the time-series image (original image) (image adding means) to display the added image (image display means).

As described above, when the gradation processing for emphasizing the contrast of the difference image is performed and then added to the time-series image to obtain the added image, the time-varying portion emphasized in the difference image is It is possible to prevent the addition image from being buried in the shadow of the time-series image, and thus it is possible to clearly present the positional change portion with respect to the normal structure and present it in an easy-to-see manner.

Here, instead of the gradation processing, frequency processing for removing high-frequency components of the difference image is performed, and high-frequency artifacts due to slight positional deviations such as rib edges and blood vessels when obtaining the difference image are generated. The configuration may be such that after the removal, the time-series images are added. Further, the example shown in FIG. 8 is an example in which image processing is performed on a time-series image (original image) and then addition is performed with a difference image (time-series processed image). A process (structure extracting means) for extracting the contours of the internal structure (lung field contours, rib contours, spinal lines, etc.) is performed, and a graphic representing the contours is generated (graphic generating means). The difference image is added to the figure (image adding means) so that the image in which the temporal change portion is emphasized is superimposed on the contour of the structure.

The contour extraction is performed, for example, in Japanese Patent Application No. 62-77.
As shown in No. 353, it can be obtained from the profile information. Instead of expressing the outline as a line drawing, a configuration may be used in which a lung field region or a heart region is represented by a filled pattern based on the outline extraction result. If the structure is extracted and made into a graphic as described above, the visibility of the positional relationship of the time-varying portion with respect to the structure can be enhanced.

Further, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the difference image is binarized by comparing the image data of each pixel of the difference image (time-series processed image) with a predetermined threshold value. By such binarization processing, unnecessary image portions due to slight positional deviations such as rib edges and blood vessels when the difference image is obtained are removed. Then, an area (islands) having a size equal to or larger than a predetermined size is extracted from the area by using a labeling process for determining a plurality of areas in which a plurality of pixels equal to or larger than a threshold value corresponding to the time-varying portion are consecutive, and using the labeling process to discriminate each area. , The extracted region is represented by a filling pattern. Here, the image in which the time-varying portion is represented by a filled pattern is added to the time-series image (original image), and the added image is displayed.

According to the above configuration, the unnecessary image portion caused by the positional shift between the images when the difference image is binarized to obtain the difference image is removed, and the emphasis degree of the temporal change portion is increased. When added to the time-series image, the temporal change portion is not camouflaged by the fine shadow of the normal structure in the time-series image. Therefore, also in this case, the temporal change portion can be presented in an easy-to-see manner while clarifying the positional relationship with the normal structure portion that does not change with time.

The time-varying portion extracted by binarizing the difference image is a fill pattern, and as shown in FIG. 10, a preset mark ( It is also possible to display it by displaying a cross mark). Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the image processing is performed on one of the time-series image (original image) and the difference image (time-series processed image), and then both are added to obtain the added image. The image processing may be performed on both the time-series image (original image) and the difference image (time-series processed image), and then the addition may be performed.

By the way, the time-series image (original image) and the difference image (time-series processed image), which are the radiation images, are monochrome images having densities corresponding to the radiation transmission level, and are colored by image processing. By performing (color operation means), it is possible to make the time-varying portion easy to see in the added image. As the color operation, for example, a time series image (or an image obtained by performing image processing on the time series image) and a difference image (or an image obtained by performing image processing on the difference image) are expressed in mutually different colors. It can be configured to. With such a configuration, it becomes easier to distinguish and recognize the time-varying portion and the unchanged structure portion in the added image, and it is easier to recognize the time-varying portion while clarifying the positional relationship with the normal structure. .

Further, when the contour of a structure is extracted from a time-series image as shown in FIG. 8, a line drawing or a filling pattern expressing the contour is expressed by color, and an image which becomes the background of the contour image is displayed. It may be displayed in monochrome. Further, without coloring the time-series image, only the difference image (or the image obtained by performing the image processing on the difference image) is colored to generate a colored time-series processed image, and then the addition process is performed to show in monochrome. Only the time-varying portion may be represented in color with respect to the normal structure portion.

In the coloring of the difference image, as shown in FIG. 11, the hue may be changed based on the pixel value of the difference image (time-series processed image).
As shown in, the density may be changed together with the hue based on the pixel value. In the color operation shown in FIG. 11, pixels that do not change over time are not colored, but pixels that have changed over time are colored either red or blue depending on the direction of change in the image data. There is. Further, in the color operation shown in FIG. 12, similarly to the color operation shown in FIG. 11, with respect to the pixel which has changed over time, a different color is colored depending on the direction of the change.
The color density is increased as the change over time increases.

For example, when the difference processing is expressed as a difference image (time-series processed image) = (past image)-(new image) + constant, the lesion portion generally has a reduced radiation transmittance and thus an image. Since the data is small, the newly-generated lesion is displayed in red because the pixel value of the difference image is large, and the improved lesion is displayed in blue because the pixel value of the difference image is small, due to the color operation on the difference image shown in FIG. 11. That is, by performing the color operation shown in FIG. 12, it is possible to further estimate the degree of deterioration or improvement of the lesion from the color density.

By the way, by displaying the added image generated by performing various kinds of image processing as described above, the temporal change portion can be presented in an easy-to-see manner while clarifying the positional relationship with the normal structure portion. For confirmation of the changed portion and detailed observation of the changed portion over time, it may be necessary to display a difference image or a time-series image (image before the addition process). Therefore, a radiogram interpreter, such as a doctor, operates the operation console 4 to display the addition image, the time-series image, the difference image, or the addition image and the time-series image. It is advisable to arbitrarily switch the display among the three parties (display switching means).

As the display image switching pattern, for example, a time series image or a difference image is usually displayed,
The addition image is displayed when a request is made via the operation console 4, or the addition image is normally displayed, and the time series image or the difference image is displayed when a request is made via the operation console 4. It can be configured to be displayed. If the display images are switched as described above, the temporal change portion can be easily confirmed by comparing the added image and the difference image, and the temporal change image of the temporal change portion can be confirmed after confirming the temporal change portion. Detailed observation is possible.

If a plurality of image display units 6 are provided, it is possible to simultaneously display the time-series image or the difference image (image before addition processing) together with the addition image on different display screens. It is also possible to reduce and display the time-series image or the difference image together with the added image on the same screen (multi-image display means). Further, the conditions of image processing (gradation processing, frequency processing, color operation) may be arbitrarily designated by the image reader through the console 4.

Furthermore, image processing (gradation processing, frequency processing,
A plurality of added images obtained by changing the condition of (color operation) in multiple stages (processing condition adjusting means) may be sequentially switched and displayed in accordance with an instruction through the console 4 (display switching). Means), and a plurality of added images obtained by changing the image processing conditions in multiple stages (processing condition adjusting means) may be automatically and sequentially displayed at fixed time intervals (display switching means). ). In this case, by changing the image processing conditions in multiple stages, it is possible to observe while changing the emphasis degree of the temporal change portion or the invariant structure portion.

The image processing conditions that are changed in multiple steps include a gradation conversion curve for gradation processing, a filter size or mask size for frequency processing, and a threshold for threshold processing. In addition, when there is a subject part that is not common between images when the difference processing is performed with alignment, and a non-common subject part that surrounds the difference image is included, the non-common subject is used to observe the difference image. Since the image of the portion is unnecessary, it is preferable to perform a process of masking or trimming the unnecessary portion.

[0058]

As described above, according to the time-series processed image display device of the first aspect of the present invention, the time-series processed image in which the temporal change portion is selectively emphasized is displayed in the structure portion that has not changed. By superimposing on the original image shown, the relative positional relationship and size of the time-varying portion with respect to the invariant structure can be presented in an easy-to-see manner, and especially in medical radiation images, the diagnostic accuracy and efficiency can be improved. There is an effect that can be.

According to the time-series processed image display device of the present invention, a time-series processed image is generated from a plurality of time-series processed images, and the time-series processed image and the original image are superimposed. Therefore, there is an effect that it is possible to obtain an image based on the time-series image in which the relative positional relationship and the size of the time-varying portion with respect to the invariant structure can be presented in an easily visible manner.

According to the time-series processed image display device of the third aspect of the present invention, since the original image and the time-series processed image are superposed after the gradation process or the frequency process, the added image is displayed. There is an effect that the time-varying portion or the invariant structure portion can be easily displayed. According to the time-series processed image display device of the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the specific structure is extracted and a graphic showing the position of the specific structure is generated, it is possible to display the invariant structure with good visibility. is there.

According to the time-series processed image display device of the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the image or the graphic is colored, the visibility can be improved by expressing the color with the time-varying portion and the invariant structure. There is an effect that it is possible to express the time-varying portion and the invariant structure at the same time. According to the time-series processed image display device of the invention of claim 6,
Since the hue is changed based on the pixel value of the time-series processed image, it is possible to express the nature of the change over time in color.
It is possible to present a time-varying portion with high visibility and to provide clinically important information for medical diagnosis.

According to the time-series processed image display device of the seventh aspect of the present invention, the addition image and the image before the addition processing are displayed simultaneously, so that the addition suitable for recognizing the positional relationship and size of the time-varying portion is added. There is an effect that both an image display and a display suitable for detailed observation of the shadow of a time-varying portion can be obtained at the same time. According to the time-series processed image display device of the invention of claim 8, it is possible to switch between the state in which the addition image is displayed and the state in which the image before the addition process is displayed as necessary, and therefore, the position of the temporal change portion can be displayed. There is an effect that both the display of the added image suitable for the recognition of the relationship and the size and the display suitable for the detailed observation of the shadow of the time-varying portion can be appropriately switched.

According to the time-series processed image display device of the ninth aspect of the present invention, a plurality of added images generated by changing the image processing conditions in multiple stages can be sequentially switched and displayed. There is an effect that it is possible to observe while changing the degree of emphasis of the structure portion.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a state of difference processing in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a state of difference processing in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a manner in which an added image is obtained by performing gradation processing on an original image.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing how an original image is subjected to non-sharpening processing to obtain an added image.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing how an original image is subjected to high frequency extraction processing to obtain an added image.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing how a time-series processed image is subjected to gradation processing to obtain an added image.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a manner in which a contour of a structure is extracted from an original image to obtain an added image.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a manner in which a temporal change portion having a predetermined size or more is extracted from a time-series processed image to obtain an added image.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a manner in which a temporal change portion having a predetermined size or more is extracted from a time-series processed image to obtain an added image.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a coloring characteristic according to a pixel value of a time-series processed image.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing coloring characteristics according to pixel values of a time-series processed image.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 image storage unit 2 image information storage unit 3 image management unit 4 operator console 5 image processing unit 6 image display unit 7 image memory 8 display control unit A image display unit

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An image reading unit for reading an original image stored in a storage device and a time-series processed image corresponding to the original image, and an image for performing image processing on at least one of the original image and the time-series processed image. A processing means, and the read time-series processed image and the image-processed time-series processed image on one of the read original image and the image-processed original image, A time-series processed image display device, comprising: an image adding means for adding any one of the above, and an image display means for displaying the added image obtained by the image adding means. 2. An image reading means for reading a plurality of time-series original images stored in a storage device, and at least two images among the plurality of time-series original images read by the image reading means. A time-series processing means for generating a time-series processed image by performing image processing using the image processing method, and performing image processing on at least one of the plurality of original images and the time-series processed image. An image processing means, and the generated time-series processed image and the time-series processed image subjected to the image processing on one of the read original image and the original image subjected to the image processing, A time-series processed image display device, comprising: an image adding means for adding any one of the above, and an image display means for displaying the added image obtained by the image adding means. 3. The image processing means comprises at least one of a gradation processing means for changing a gradation characteristic of an image and a frequency processing means for changing a frequency characteristic of the image. 2. A display device for time-series processed images according to 2. 4. The graphic generation means for generating a graphic showing the structure extracting means for extracting a specific structure in the image and the position of the specific structure extracted by the structure extracting means by the image processing means. 3. A time series processed image display device according to claim 1, further comprising: 5. The time series according to claim 1, wherein the image processing means has a color operation means for performing a color operation on an image or a figure to generate a colored image. Display device for processed images. 6. The image processing means includes color operation means for generating a colored time-series processed image having a hue changed based on a pixel value of the time-series processed image. A display device for a time-series processed image according to any one of 1. 7. A plurality of image display means, wherein the image display means simultaneously displays the added image and an image before addition processing in the image addition means on the same display screen or different display screens. Claim 1 characterized by having.
The display device of the time series processed image as described in any one of 1-6. 8. The image display means has a display switching means for switching between a state in which the added image is displayed and a state in which the image before the addition processing is performed in the image addition means is displayed. The display device for displaying time-series processed images according to any one of claims 1 to 6, which is characterized in that. 9. The image processing means has a processing condition adjusting means for changing the image processing condition in multiple steps, and the image display means generates a result by changing the image processing condition in multiple steps. 7. The time-series processed image display device according to claim 1, further comprising a display switching unit that sequentially displays the plurality of added images to be displayed.